Back the following horses on their next four runs, unless they change trainer.
Portoro – 3-year-old gelding; Martin Dunne – a 9 length winner on his handicap debut, Portoro looks set for further success despite going up 13lb for that win based on his recent effort at Windsor. Held up off a steady pace, the son of Outstrip made rapid headway on the bridle to go from a six-length last to pressing the leader, but wasn’t quite able to sustain that run to the line. He will be better off a stronger pace, or returned to 10f for now, and should make a rating of 75 at least, giving him plenty of scope from his current mark of 61.
Loughville – 3-year-old filly; Alan King – Alan King’s filly caught the eye several times last year on the all-weather and is better than she was able to show last time at Salisbury. Having shaped well on her return, she had little chance here trapped wide off a steady pace but made a nice move down the outside to challenge. That was always going to be hard to sustain on a speed and rail favouring track, but Loughville showed more than enough here to suggest she is better than a rating of 70, particularly given how weak she was in the betting. Class 5 races are open to her and a well-run mile would suit her just as well.
Gautrey – 4-year-old gelding; Tony Carroll – this stoutly-bred gelding has taken a while to find his feet but looks to be hitting top form now following three good runs at Bath. He was a little unlucky last time, travelling well into things but never really able to fully get rolling, which was never going to suit this galloper. He is a nicely enough bred for one with a rating of just 53 and looks the type to improve again with a more prominent ride. Better ground, or the all-weather, should also suit him, and this 30th April foal should keep improving as the year goes on.
